Somalia’s Council of Ministers has decided to immediately cancel every existing bilateral agreement and partnership with the United Arab Emirates. The announcement, issued late Monday, cites clear evidence that UAE actions are seriously threatening the country’s territorial unity and national sovereignty.
The termination covers cooperation in defense, security and major infrastructure projects.
Ports at the Center of the Dispute
The government specifically ended all collaboration involving three strategic ports:
- Berbera (Somaliland) – where UAE controls a deep-water commercial and military facility
- Bosaso (Puntland) – a vital northern trade gateway
- Kismayo (southern Somalia)
All federal and regional bodies have been instructed to stop any UAE-related activities at these locations right away.
Somaliland Recognition and Airspace Issues Fuel Crisis
Tensions escalated sharply after Israel became the first country to formally recognize Somaliland’s independence — a decision Mogadishu views as a direct attack on its territorial integrity. Reports also emerged that the UAE allegedly helped a separatist figure leave Yemen through Berbera airport without Somali approval, violating national airspace rules.
Information Minister Daud Aweis Aden Duale declared: “Using its full constitutional power, the Council of Ministers hereby cancels and terminates all agreements with the United Arab Emirates.”
Next Steps and Conditions for Future Relations
The Foreign Ministry will formally notify Abu Dhabi of the decision. Somalia is also briefing regional and international partners about the change.
While the break is complete, the government left the door slightly open for future ties — but only if they strictly respect:
- Somalia’s unified borders
- The central government’s authority
- International and constitutional rules
The move marks one of the sharpest diplomatic ruptures between two former close partners in the Horn of Africa.
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